Viking Cruises to sail the Mississippi River in 2022; Delta extends elite status into 2021

Viking Cruises plans to launch an all-inclusive, 386-passenger river ship on the Mississippi River in August 2022. Currently under construction in New Orleans, the Viking Mississippi will sail voyages including an eight-day itinerary between St. Louis and St. Paul, an eight-day trip between New Orleans and Memphis, an eight-day New Orleans round trip, and a 15-day voyage between New Orleans and St. Paul. The ship will have 193 all-outside staterooms, a clean Scandinavian design, an infinity pool and several restaurants. Bookings will open to the general public on Wednesday. The announcement comes on the heels of the January reveal of the new Viking Expeditions, launching in 2022 on voyages to Antarctica and the Great Lakes.

TravelPulse

Delta extends Medallion status, and other perks

Since most air travel has shut down due to the you-know-what, frequent fliers have wondered what would happen to their dreams of elite status. Last week, Delta Air Lines became the first to answer the question. The carrier announced that whatever Medallion status you’ve earned for 2020 will automatically be rolled over for 2021. Further, all Medallion Qualification Miles earned in 2020 will be rolled over to 2021 to qualify for 2022 Medallion status. Sky Club members will receive six additional months of lounge access beyond their expiration date. Delta’s news included some goodies for non-elite SkyMiles members, as well. For example, upgrade certificates, $200 travel vouchers and American Express companion certificates set to expire over the next year will get an extension of at least six months, or to Dec. 31, 2020, at the soonest.

Simon Peter Groebner

V6

In-flight magazines fold

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, airlines have instituted onboard cleaning measures that include the removal of incidental perks. Gone, at least for now, are in-flight magazines. “Delta is streamlining its onboard cleaning process by removing nonessential items from seat back pockets, including Sky magazine, until further notice,” said Anthony Black, a Delta Air Lines spokesman. Minneapolis-based MSP Communications, publisher of Delta Sky magazine, informed its contributors that the magazine was folding and laying off its staff. On Twitter, Dana Raidt, former editor in chief of Delta Sky, wrote “ ... just a heads up the Delta Sky magazine team (including me) has been laid off and the mag is no more.” Black said the airline has not yet determined the fate of the magazine.